LONDON — In an emotional and candid interview that left both audience and fellow panellists in stunned silence, Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has opened up for the first time about a deeply personal health crisis she endured following the death of her sister Linda Nolan — a condition she now believes was directly triggered by grief.

Appearing on Tuesday’s live broadcast of the ITV panel show, the 59-year-old presenter fought back tears as she described a “terrifying spiral” that began shortly after Linda’s passing in early 2024.

“I haven’t said this publicly before,” she began, her voice trembling, “but after Linda died, something in my body… just broke.”

A Family Devastated

Linda Nolan — beloved singer and member of the iconic Nolan Sisters group — lost her years-long battle with cancer last spring. Her passing left a devastating hole in both her family and the UK entertainment world.

“Linda was my big sister, my best friend, my constant,” Coleen said on the program. “When she died, the grief was so heavy… I didn’t know how to carry it.”

In the months that followed, Coleen said she began experiencing severe physical symptoms that doctors initially struggled to explain: crushing fatigue, chest pressure, unexplained panic attacks, hair thinning, and spells of faintness.

“At one point I thought I was having a heart attack every day,” she admitted. “But the ECGs were clear. My heart was fine. It was grief.”

A Diagnosis Rooted in Emotion

Eventually, specialists diagnosed Coleen with stress-induced dysautonomia — a rare, often misunderstood nervous system dysfunction linked to prolonged emotional trauma. It’s a condition known to affect the heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and hormonal balance — often without any detectable physical cause.

“The doctors said it was like my body had short-circuited from grief,” Coleen explained. “That my nervous system had gone into overdrive and didn’t know how to switch off.”

She described periods of intense dizziness, days spent unable to stand for more than 10 minutes, and a terrifying stretch of insomnia that left her “sobbing at 3 a.m., night after night.”

Keeping It a Secret

Despite being in the public eye, Coleen chose to keep her condition private for over a year, even as viewers noticed her absence from Loose Women episodes and canceled public appearances.

“I didn’t want pity. I didn’t want headlines. I just wanted to survive it quietly,” she said. “But eventually, I realized how many others might be going through this and blaming themselves — or thinking they’re going mad.”

Support From Family, Fans, and Her Fellow Loose Women

Coleen credited her recovery to intensive therapy, rest, and the “incredible support” of her family and Loose Women colleagues — many of whom sat in stunned silence as she spoke, visibly emotional.

Ruth Langsford, seated beside her, reached for her hand and said softly:

“You’ve carried so much, Coleen. Thank you for sharing this. You’ve just helped thousands of people who don’t have the words yet.”

A Message of Strength and Awareness

Coleen’s decision to speak out is already resonating deeply with fans. Social media exploded with support within minutes of the episode airing, with hashtags like #WeLoveYouColeen, #GriefAwareness, and #NolanStrong trending on X.

“Grief can do terrible things to the body,” Coleen told viewers. “It’s not just crying and sadness. It’s physical. It’s terrifying. And it’s real.”

She also revealed that she’s working with a team of health professionals and grief counselors to launch a new initiative called “Silent Shock”, aimed at raising awareness about the hidden toll grief can take on the body and nervous system.

Looking Ahead

Despite the trauma, Coleen says she’s slowly finding balance again. She has resumed full filming duties on Loose Women, is preparing to tour with her upcoming stage show “Naked Heart”, and remains closely connected to her remaining siblings and extended family.

“Linda wouldn’t want me to stay in the darkness,” she said. “She’d want me laughing, and eating cake, and dancing with my grandkids. So I’m doing that — one day at a time.”